Song Of The Road

I am a Road; a good road, fair and smooth and broad;          And I link with my beautiful tether          Town and Country together,     Like a ribbon rolled on the earth, from the reel of God.          Oh, great the life of a Road!     I am a Road; a long road, leading on and on;          And I cry to the world to follow,          Past meadow and hill and hollow,     Through desolate night, to the open gates of dawn.          Oh, bold the life of a Road!     I am a Road; a kind road, shaped by strong hands.          I make strange cities neighbours;          The poor grow rich with my labours,     And beauty and comfort follow me through the lands.          Oh, glad the life of a Road!     I am a Road; a wise road, knowing all men's ways;          And I know how each heart reaches          For the things dear Nature teaches;     And I am the path that leads into green young Mays.          Oh, sweet the life of a Road!     I am a Road; and I speed away from the slums,          Away from desolate places,          Away from unused spaces;     Wherever I go, there order from chaos comes.          Oh, brave the life of a Road!     I am a Road; and I would make the whole world one.          I would give hope to duty,          And cover the earth with beauty.     Do you not see, O men! how all this might be done?          So vast the power of the Road!